‘Herculean’ effort to save the QE2 from a sorry end in Dubai

AMBITIOUS plans to bring the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner home to Scotland have been unveiled.

The “Herculean” bid comes just days after it emerged the iconic vessel is lying “filthy, forlorn and neglected” in a Dubai dock. It is feared the ship may be scrapped if no one comes forward to buy her.

The QE2 was built by John Brown on the Clyde and fitted out in Greenock.

She was launched by the Queen in 1967 and served the Cunard Line for 40 years before being retired in 2008.

NC

HELP: The QE2 needs rescuing from Dubai

Bringing the QE2 home is a Herculean task, one that requires national support in Scotland and perhaps across the UK, if it has any chance of happening

Stephen McCabe

The QE2 was then sold for £64million to the United Arab Emirates conglomerate Dubai World, who had planned to turn her into a luxury hotel.

But the plans fell through due to the economic downturn and she has since languished at Dubai’s Port Rashid.

Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe has now instructed council officers to ask the Dubai Government if the liner is up for sale.

Calling on the UK and Scottish Governments to campaign to buy her, he said: “Bringing the QE2 home is a Herculean task, one that requires national support in Scotland and perhaps across the UK, if it has any chance of happening.”